Interlocking control system for elevators.



H. ROWNTREE INTERLOCKING CPNTROL SYSTEM FOR ELEVATORS.

APPLICATION FILED APR-8, 1914.

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Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

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INTERLOCKING CONTROL SYSTEM FOR ELEVATORS.

APPLICATION FILED APILB. m4.

1 ,2l6,84:6. Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

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HAROLD ROWNZREE, OF KENILWOBTH, ILLINOIS.

INTERLOGKING CONTROL SYSTEM FOR ELEVATQBB.

Application filed April 8, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HAROLD RowN'rnnE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kenilworth, in the county of Cook, State of Illinois, have made a certain new and useful Invention in Interlocking Control Systems for Elevators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to interlocking control systems for elevators.

The object of the invention is to provide a controlsystem for elevator interlocking mechanism which is simple and eilicient and wherein control of the car movements may be eifected for emergency or other purposes independently of the interlocking mechanism. l

A further object is to provide a control arrangement of the nature referred to wherein when the operation of the car inde pendently of the interlocking system-is effected one or more signals are also operated toLindicate such independent operation.

A. further object is to provide a control and signal arrangement of the nature re-' ferred to whereinmanual or other operation is" necessary in order to restore the arts to their normal condition after a car is operated independently of the interlocking system.'

Other objects of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The invention consists substantially in the construction, combination, location and relative arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawing and-finally pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings and to the various views appearing thereon,

Figure 1 is a view in diagram showing an arrangement of interlocking control circuit for elevators, and an auxiliary control switch to permit the operation of the car independently of the interlocking system.

Fig. 2 is-a similar view showing an auxiliary control switch on the car, and also showing a contact arrangement controlled by the door or gate on the car included in the interlocking circuit system.

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the of a signaling system in connection with the auxiliary control.

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing an arrangement of locking relay employed in connection with my invention.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 20, 1917.

Serial No. 880,406.

The same part is designated by the same reference numeral wherever it occurs throughout the several views.

In the operation of elevators, dumbwaiters, or the like, and in order to secure the highest degree of safety in the operation thereof, it'is customary to provide an lnterlocking circuit system to control the hoisting motor so arranged that when any elevator shaft door is open, or when the car door or gate is open the motor control circuit is opened and the car cannot be operated until all of said doors or gates are closed. It sometimes happens, however, that in emergencies, or for special reasons. it is desirable to operate the car withoutclosing the doors,'as, for instance, where it is desired to inspect, repair or lubricate the mechanism within the-elevator well and for such purpose a workman enters the well and V is carried upon the roof of the car while performing his duties. In order to enable him to reach the roof of the car from any floor or landing it is necessary to open the shaft or well door and lower the car until the roof reaches a convenient point for the workman to climb onto the same through the doorway. Other exigencies also frequently arise requiring the operation of the car independently of the interlocking circuit control system. In such cases it becomes necessary to control the car operations independently of the interlocking system. When so operated, however, it is desirable to employ a suitable signaling system in connection with the independent control to indicate when the emergency or auxiliary independent control is eifected, and to provide means which require manual or special operation to restore the parts to their normal position for interlocking control. It is among the special purposes of my present invention to provide means which are simple and-efficient for accomplishing these and other advantageous results.

In the drawings, reference numeral 5 designates a car, and 6 its hoisting mechanism including a motor 7. The operation of the hoisting motor may be controlled by an electrio circuit, a, which may supply or control the supply of operating current to the motor. This circuit I will call the motor control circuit. This circuit extends throughout the length of the elevator well or shaft and is controlled in such manner that when any shaft or well door 9, or the car door 10, is

open, said circuit is opened. For instance. a contact device, indicated at 8, is employed in connection with each door 9, 10, and so arranged with referencethercto, and in the motor control circuit, as to be closed when the door is closed and open when the door is opened.

With this interlocking circuit system it will be seen that when any elevator shaft or well door is open or, as in Fig. 2, when the door of the elevator car is open, the hoisting motor is inoperative and remains so until all of the doors are again closed.

In order to provide for the emergency or other operation of the car independently of the interlocking circuit system referred to, and in accordance with my invention, I provide an auxiliary switch 11, for supplymg current to the motor independently of thedoor controlled contacts 8. This auxiliary switch may be located at any convenient it will be seen that whenever desired or reuse point, as, for instance, at the control board from which it may be operated by the engineer in charge of the elevator plant of a building, for instance, or at the control station of a one point control elevator system. If desired, however, an auxiliary switch '12, having the same purpose and function, may be located on the car as in dicated in Figs. 2 and 3.

Withv the arrangement above described,

quired,'the control of the car operation may the manipulation of the auxiliary switch 11 or 12, and that when said auxiliary switch is closed the car is operated as desired in dependently of the interlocking circuit system.

In order to provide against the danger of the inadvertent operation of the car.-

through the agency .of; the auxiliary switches, or either of-the'in, and to indicate when such operation takes place, I propose, in accordance with my invention,-to associated a signaling system with the auxiliary control of the motor in such relation that when the motor is operated a signal, either audible or visible, is effected at any desired point. In Fig. 3, I have shown such a signal system. In this case, and as illustra' tive of the principles involved I provide signals 13, 14, 15, which are shown as lamps. These signal devices may be locatedat any desired or convenient point. For instance, I have shown the device 13, located on the car, the device 14 at the station of the starter, and-the device 15 at the control board. It is evident, however, that a signal device may be located at any desired point. The signal be accomplished in any suitable or conven ient manner. It is desirable, however, tha' such control he so efl'ectml as to requin manual or other special manipulation t 1 restore the hoisting motor control to the in terlocking circuit system for normal opera tion, and consequently, in accordance wit] my invention, I provide means to lock th signal circuit closed whenever an auxiliar; switch 11 or 12 is closed, so that, thereaftei and until released by manual or others spe cial operation, the signals continue in ope] ationf To this end I provide a relay de vice which is electrically operated by th closin of an auxiliary switch 11, 12, anwhich includes a magnet coil 16, include in the circuit 0 of the auxiliary switches 1' 12. The armature 17 of this coil is movabli and when attracted by the energization c the magent, closes the signal circuit 6, 2 clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4. A late device 18, engages the armature 17, whe the latter is in signal circuit closing pos tion, and locks the same in that positioi This latch must be manually or otherwi: released in order to restore the parts to the normal position for interlocking circuit co] trol of the hoisting motor. In practice tl relay control device for the signal circu .ShOUld be so located as to be under the s pervision and control of someone other th: the conductor or other attendant on the 0; thereby preventing the possibility of acz dents due to the conductor or car attenda rendering the interlocking control syste inoperative and then restoring the same will. Therefore I find it expedient to l .cate the signal circuit control relay at t nature of my invention, and constructi and arrangements embodying the princip thereof, what I claim as new and usef and of my own invention, and desire to cure by Letters Patent is,-

1. The combination with an elevator c its hoisting motor, and an interlocking ctrol circuit therefor, of means to render interlocking control circuit inoperative 2 to independently operate the motor, a s nalsdevice made operative when the ini locking control circuit is rendered ino ative, and means to lock the signal dev when operated, in an operative conditior 2. The combination with an elevator its hoisting motor, and an interlocking (1 controlled control circuit therefor, of

auxiliary control circuit for the motor, a

switch to control the same, and a signal device made operative when said switch; 7 closed, and means to lock the signal device, when operated, in an operative condition.

3. The combination with an elevator car, its hoisting motor, and an interlocking door controlled control-circuit therefor, a signal device made operative when said switch is closed, and means to lock said signal device in operation. 7 n

4. The combination with an elevator car,

- its hoisting motor and an interlocking door controlled control circuit therefor, of an auxiliary control circuit for the motor, a signal circuit and a switchto close the auxiliary and signal circuits and-to open the interlocking control circuit and -means to lock the signal circuit when closed, in its closed condition.

5. The combination with an elevator car,

its hoisting motor and an interlocking door controlled control circuit therefor, of an auxiliarv control circuit for the motor. a

relay device therein, a switch to close said circuit and to open said interlocking circuit, and a signal device controlled by said relay and'means for lockin said signal de vice, when operated by sai relay in operative condition.

6. The combination with an elevator car, its hoisting motor, and an interlocking door controlled control circuit therefor, ofan auxiliary control circuit for the motor, a relay in said auxiliary circuit, a switch to close said auxilia and to open said interlocking circuit,a slgnal device controlled by .said relay, and a releasable lock for said relay.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of the subscribing wltnesses, on the 6th day of April, A. D.

' HAROLD ROWNTREE.

Witnesses: Y a

' D. M. Snnomm,

Lam E. Sum. 

